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2 Shets-Sheet 1. J. ALVES.

AMALGAMATOR.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 2?, 18 83.

IJV' VEN TOR N. PETER$ Photo-Lithographer, Wnhington. D. C.

Human STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALVES, OF DUNEDIN, NEV ZEALAND.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,003, dated February 27, 1883/ Application filed November 7, 1882.

in one common casing. Each box contains one, two, three, or more sets of contrivances, one below the other, as may be preferred. Each of these sets of contrivancesis made up, first, of a top plate, having one or more rows of holes or perforations along its longitudinal center, below which is a series of vertical amalgamating-plates resting upon a curved bottom, thus forming a series of troughs, the only exit from each of which is through a hole in the center of each plate, so as to providea passage from the center to each 'side of these sets of contrivances,\vhere downward passages conduct to a second set of contrivances ideutical with those just described, and under the second there may be a third, and so on, multiplying them as much as may be desired, although I have found five of these sets a useful and practicable number. The lowermost of these sets discharges ontoadistributing-table and from thence onto an endless traveling blanket table or any other suitable concentrator; or the distributing-table might be dispensed with and the amalgamator discharge itself directly onto the blanket table.

In order, however, that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to describe the drawings attached hereto, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one of my amalgamators; Fig. 2, a transverse section of i a part of same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section,

(No model.)

bars of the box. 0 represents the hangers of swinging bars. f is an arm projecting from the box and jointed to the end of connect ing-rod h; g is a fulcrum on the swinging bars for connecting-rod to give the rocking motion to the amalgamator-box; h h, the connectingrod to crank; i, a crank-plate or eccentric, whereby the box I) is caused to swing or rock. A, Fig.2, is the wooden support or box for amalgamating-plates. B represents the amalgamatingplates set vertically in said box A, thus utilizing both sides. G (J are discharge.- holes through said plates. D is a horizontal amalgamating-plate to cover in the vertical plates; E E, openings or holes to let the feed enter the amalgamator; F F, passages to allow the overflow to escape on each side from the amalgamator. G G are ferforated p ates to convey the overflow into the center of the amalgamator below, as shown by the arrows; H H, fillets to keep the wooden supports A in position and to allow them to be drawn out when required. I) b are the sides of amalgamator-box; 70 k, fillets to hold the perforated plate in position.

Bis one of the vertical amalgainating-plates, and 1) its ends. 0 are its discharge-apertures. D is the horizontal amalgamating-plate or cover over the vertical plates.

m m are slots in the wooden support A to allow the vertical plates B to drop into position, so as to admit of their being easily taken out to clean oif the amalgam. One side of the box I) may be made to open like a door, to allow the amalgamators to be drawn out when required.

The mode of operation is as follows: The whole apparatus is'so set as that the discharge of each stamp in a battery is conducted to the 'top of one of the compartments in my amalof the top plate, D, and falls into the central troughs between the vertical amalgamatiugplates B. In these troughs itis swayed about by the motionof the amalgamator as a whole, and, passing from trough to trough through the perforations C in both directions in regular succession, is finally discharged into the passages F, and thence onto plate G through perforations, in the center of which it discharges into a similar set of contrivances to thosejust described, and'from this set to a third, and so on to as many as maybe thought desirable, although I have found five sets, as shown in the drawings, Fig. 5, to work admirably. Thisdischargefronieach compartment of my amalgamator is received on adistributing-table, from whence it passes to any suitable washing and concentrating contrivance. When the amalgamator is sntficiently charged it must be cleaned out, and if the amalgamating-plates become dirty they must be cleaned and renewed or resilvered, as the case may be, the gold in the form of amalgam being found mostly on the vertical plates of the amalgamators, while the pyrites and other valuable material will be found deposited in the bottom of the washer.

If so preferred, the feed might be at the side of each compartment of the ama gamator instead ofin the middle,as hereiubefore described, and the material would then have to travel to the opposite side of the box before it could be discharged. This of course would give it a longer time for treatment; and, again, the motion imparted to the amalgamator as a whole and the contrivances for giving such motion might be altered or varied; but as regards each ofthese variations I prefer the mode shown in my drawings and hereinbefore described.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the method of putting it into practical operation, I would have it understood that What I claim as my improvements in amalgamators is- 1. The combination of the amalgamatingbox 1), hearing or trunnion pin 0, swingingbars (1, arm f, rod h, and crank '5, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The box or support A, provided Will] perforated vertical amalgamating-plates B, cover D, and overflow-openings F F, the cover-plates D being placed on the incline, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an amalgamator, the box A, vertical perforated plates B, incline cover D, and openings F 1*, in combination with perforated plates G, whereby theovertlow from amalgamators Bis conveyed to the center of the amalga-- mator below.

4. In an amalgamator, the combination of the box A, vertical perforated plates B, incline cover D, fillets H, and perforated plates G, substantiallyas described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an amalgamator, the combination of the box A, vertical perforated plates B, incline cover I), and fillets Hand K, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an amalgamator, the box A, provided with slots at, adapted to receive the lower edge of the vertical perforated plates B, the covers 1), and overflow-openings F, substantially as described.

7. In an amalgamator, the framing a, provided with amalgamating-box I), said box being provided with a series of vertical perforated amalgamating-plates, B, covered by incline plates D, each of the series of amalgann ating plates being contained in a box, A, provided with overflow-openings F, each of said boxes being separated by intervening perfo rated plates G, the box I) being pirotally mounted, whereby it may be given a rocking motion, as set forth.

JOHN ALVES.

\Vitnesses:

AROHIBALD HILSON Ross, ERNEs'r ALFRED Ross. 

